-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 O58Pu7a8e9xMIWM4+TwilVQa8Z7ODbehYtA8p9la6r0BeP58OQAKv94gLJFJcjdz
 Ai2jXa+piMKHT9Xq4BSxMw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001238940-04-000002.txt : 20041025
<SEC-HEADER>0001238940-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20041025
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041025165312
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001238940-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041022
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041025
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041025

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WATLINGTON THOMAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001238940

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21873
		FILM NUMBER:		041094452

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BIOSITE INC
		STREET 2:		11030 ROSELLE STREET
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8584554808

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BIOSITE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000834306
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	IN VITRO & IN VIVO DIAGNOSTIC SUBSTANCES [2835]
		IRS NUMBER:				330288606
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11030 ROSELLE ST
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6194554808

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11030 ROSELLE ST
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BIOSITE DIAGNOSTICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960710
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgardoc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000834306</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOSITE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BSTE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001238940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WATLINGTON THOMAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BIOSITE INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11030 ROSELLE STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN DIEGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92121</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>49.15</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-10-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vests in sixteen equal quarterly installments over four years (on each quarterly anniversary of the applicable vesting commencement date), provided that no shares may be exercised during the first six (6) month period following the commencement of vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Robyn Shutak  For: Thomas M. Watlington</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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